McHale F550 service schedule

1. Park on level ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes so the baler can't roll.
2. Wait until every part of the baler has stopped turning. Never go near the pick-up reel while it is turning and the tractor is running.
3. Check the wheel nuts are tight.
4. Check every guard and safety device is fitted and undamaged, including the PTO shaft guard and its chains.
5. Check the road lights, indicators and reflectors work and are clean.
6. Look for oil leaks and damaged hydraulic pipes. Never feel for a leak with your hand: use a piece of card.
7. Grease the 3 heavy-duty grease points on the PTO shaft (the lower 3 on McHale's PTO diagram) until fresh grease shows.
8. The automatic oiler and greaser need attention every day too: see the 'Chain oiler and grease cartridge' task.

Tools: Grease gun, Wheel brace or torque wrench, Torch, Piece of card (for finding hydraulic leaks)

1. Disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes. Wait for everything to stop turning.
2. Unscrew the cap on the oil reservoir and top up with clean chain oil to the max mark. Keep the level between min and max at all times.
3. Use only clean, strained oil. Dirt blocks the oiler pipes and brushes.
4. Refit the cap and tighten it fully.
5. When the control box counter reaches zero (about every 300 bales), change the grease cartridge: take the cap off the plunger end of the new cartridge, unscrew the cartridge holder from the pump and take out the old one.
6. Pull the plunger right back, fit the new cartridge and screw the holder back on. Once it catches the first thread, turn it one full turn only.
7. Reset the lube counter: hold 'Totals A-B' and 'Man/Auto' together for 5 seconds.

Tools: Clean funnel with strainer, Rags, Gloves

1. Park on level ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes. Wait for everything to stop.
2. If you need to reach under the tailgate, close it fully or lock it open with the tailgate safety lock (lever A on the front right panel, horizontal). Never work under a tailgate held only by the tractor hydraulics.
3. Wipe each nipple clean, then grease the chamber pivot points.
4. Grease the 5 standard-duty points on the PTO shaft (all except the 3 heavy-duty ones you grease daily).
5. Wipe off surplus grease.

Tools: Grease gun, Rags

1. Disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes. Wait until every chain and sprocket has stopped.
2. Take off the chain guards. Refit every guard before you start the baler again.
3. Measure sag at the midpoint of each chain between sprockets, holding the other side tight.
4. Main drive chain: tighten the M16 nyloc nut until the spring is the same length as its guide. The guide is only an indicator: check the chain itself, as a worn chain may need more.
5. Main drive chain: check after the first 500 bales, then every 1,000 bales.
6. Pick-up reel tine chain: loosen bolt A, push the nylon slide up its slot and retighten, keeping sag to a minimum.
7. Reel drive chain: loosen bolt A about a turn and the locknut, turn the setscrew until there is little or no sag, then retighten both.
8. Chopper duplex chain: adjust after the first 5 working hours, then with the rest. Inspect all chains for worn rollers and stiff links.

Tools: Two 24 mm spanners, 17 mm and 19 mm spanners and sockets, Rule

1. Park on level ground with the PTO off, the engine stopped and the key out.
2. Check and set every tyre to 1.38 bar (20 psi): main wheels (500/50-17, 500/50-22.5 or 16/70-20) and the 170/60-8 pick-up wheels.
3. Look for cuts, bulges and exposed cords.

Tools: Tyre pressure gauge, Tyre inflator

1. Park on level ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes. Wait for everything to stop.
2. Lower the pick-up to the ground, or prop it, before reaching under it.
3. Grease the pick-up reel shaft bearings and the pick-up cam clutch.
4. Check the gearbox oil level and top up with SAE 90 if low. Don't overfill: it causes overheating and leaks.
5. Net unit: wear gloves, the net knife is sharp. Clean and lightly oil the moving parts of the netting unit.
6. Clean the rubber and aluminium net feed rollers with a cloth and washing-up liquid or soapy water. Never use petrol, benzene or turpentine on the rubber roller.
7. Dry the rubber roller and dust it with talcum powder.

Tools: Grease gun, Spanner for gearbox plugs, Rags, Mild washing-up liquid and water, Talcum powder

1. Park on level ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes. Wait for everything to stop.
2. Change it warm, after some work, so the oil drains well, but wear gloves: hot oil burns.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into the tray.
4. Clean and refit the drain plug.
5. Remove the breather plug (A) and add 2 L of SAE 90 gear oil. Don't overfill: it causes overheating and oil leaks.
6. Refit the breather plug and tighten it securely.
7. Change it once a season or every 10,000 bales, whichever comes first. On a new or rebuilt gearbox, change it after the first 5 hours.

Tools: Drain tray (5 L), Spanners for drain, level and breather plugs, Funnel, Gloves

1. Read through the operator's manual again.
2. Park on level ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and apply the brakes.
3. Check the gearbox oil level and top up with SAE 90 if needed.
4. Lubricate all pivot points.
5. Tighten all bolts, nuts and setscrews to the torques in the manual's table (section 12.2).
6. Set all tyres to 1.38 bar (20 psi).
7. Connect the control box and check every function works.
8. Check the net wrapping adjustments and the net knife for sharpness, wearing gloves. Wipe off the grease you put on the net knife at lay-up.
9. Refit the chopper knives if you took them out. If any need replacing, McHale's chopping knife is CKN00014.
10. Check the PTO shaft overlap: at least 200 mm of sliding clearance at every tractor angle, and never more than 80° of joint angle.
11. New baler or new chains: check nuts and bolts, tyres and the chopper duplex chain, and change the gearbox oil, after the first 5 working hours.

Tools: Torque wrench, Grease gun, Tyre pressure gauge, Gloves

1. Clean the baler inside and out. Keep a pressure washer away from electrics, pivots, valves and bearings.
2. Take the control box off the tractor and store it somewhere dry: it is not waterproof.
3. Clean the net feed rollers (see the monthly task), remove the net roll and store it as the net maker says.
4. Wearing gloves, grease the net knife against rust.
5. Grease all pivot points, adjuster threads and exposed ram rods.
6. Check the oil and grease lines for damage.
7. Touch up bare paint, or grease the bare metal.
8. Clean the chains and dry them with compressed air.
9. Fill the chain oil tank and fit a new grease cartridge. With everyone clear of the baler, run the PTO at about 200 rpm and raise and lower the tailgate about 15 times to oil the chains and grease the bearings.
10. Stop the PTO and engine and take the key out. Lock the tailgate with the safety lock before going inside the chamber, then take the chopper knives out and store them in the spare knife holder.
11. Lower the tailgate and pick-up fully before you leave the baler.

Tools: Pressure washer, Compressed air line, Grease gun, Gloves, Touch-up paint